Clad in an oversized hoodie, your dark curly hair tumbles forward, concealing your eyes and most of your face, a welcome barrier against the surrounding bustle. 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCNjaIKPXS
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UokRW5yBM
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttGnFeLQfZ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHI2kbKsI2
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5tc1iuRg3
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXlbwgeFWz
He stands by the lockers, his stance casual yet imposing, his face giving nothing away. He catches your eye with a look that pins you in place.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojhjrBPjMO
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZWJjn4sgr
In-woo: I need you to run some errands, grab my lunch, and don’t forget to pick up my math homework from the printer. Make it quick, okay?192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGlDYlci3D
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCPvUk0gwg
You nod, resigned. There's no escaping the routine. Every task is an echo of the years spent under his quiet dominance. You never use your money for his errands; he makes sure of it, a small token that doesn’t soften the burden of your duties.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq81DuM1Rq4
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn67AaI8Bi
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazhEb4TX5T
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCQSHvSI8b
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco7BoqEOig
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOJ6CQHO70
The cafeteria is bustling, a cacophony of adolescent energy and the clatter of trays. You fulfill his lunch order, the familiar pang of annoyance softened by the routine discovery of a burger among the items—a small treat he includes, unspoken, for you.
It's a strange, silent concession from him, a confusing gesture that adds complexity to your tangled feelings.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIcf53dsYm
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxW6Rz8nds
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWRm32jdC2
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UnV0f5kdX
Back at the lockers, you hand him the neatly stacked papers and the food, his fingers brushing against yours briefly, unintentionally. His expression remains unreadable, his eyes not meeting yours.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU0mKh7FeI
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVJVZ4yWYM
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfAnZmh7Mi
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC5tWVwOpf
You turn away, the frustration simmering inside. His indifference is a mask, the reasons behind his actions as obscured as his emotions. Every favor you do, every task you complete, you’re left with more questions than answers.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7YFh7eIFT
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5J1jm9cUw
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OzUCPKBzD
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG19U1zW10S
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDKDk59bF4
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq8Fea8yYc
[Transition]192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMBeNGk8e5
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczxwagQDzG
You navigate the quieting halls after your last class, anticipating the solitude of your walk home when you spot In-woo near the old, rarely used art room. It's not a surprise—more of a routine encounter.
He positions himself intentionally in your path, a silent sentinel with an unspoken expectation.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b6yd8Glkh
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JpSqKt8N2
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7JQHXYZ8T
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzOhVAGmku
With no spoken command needed, you walk over, feeling the invisible tug of his presence. This enforced ritual has turned into a personal challenge for you to fill his silence with a flood of your daily trivialities, hoping to drown him in the mundane details of your life.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCNJbe384I
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaw6jKzjIH
Today, you launch into an animated recount of your younger sibling’s latest antics, the words pouring out in a relentless stream.
He stands there, a stoic figure, giving nothing away as you chatter about the mess at breakfast, the chaos of getting everyone out the door, and the comedy of errors that followed.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH66KUIMJ8
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92XxkFqNRR
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPwAzfOhcE
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1onBAuWaUs
Your monologue drifts to the more tedious aspects of your day—how you nearly fell asleep in history class, the peculiar smell of the school cafeteria, or the peculiar way your pen keeps leaking.
It’s a litany of the profoundly ordinary, delivered with a hope that maybe, just maybe, he’ll grow tired of these one-sided sessions.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkNkp7kIZ5
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlAoojV0ZH
Despite your efforts, In-woo remains as impassive as ever, his face a mask of indifference. Is he even listening, or are you just background noise to him?192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9iYJ6B7aU
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjmOyAJqUC
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLG4RzH7Cc
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqxDOXLsAT
As the corridor empties, leaving echoes in its wake, your stories begin to run dry. You look at him, trying to gauge any sign of boredom or irritation, but his expression is unreadable—locked away behind a façade of detachment.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgvIzWtcxy
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhyKJjgnWp
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbPxSpr5Xw
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHwctBUIIL
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyExqz2ox9
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iX08fp0hO
You watch him disappear around the corner, the weight of unspoken questions lingering in the air. Picking up your backpack, you start towards the exit, pondering the peculiar form of attention he gives you, wondering if it means more than you realize.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dYaclASfK
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgykJl2caeB
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqfmMc7QY3
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RAPoINDAT
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W83bDeojM
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokXGq6PwyJ
[Transition]192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNINK0iYfc2
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EoOTxdE8Z
You stride down the school corridor, your thoughts swirling with the conflicting emotions that have haunted you through the years. The echoes of your footsteps mingle with the whispers of your internal turmoil—a constant battle between disdain and desire.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nL95MTZ3G
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPlR0AqYh8
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ195bee2C
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4oahiTdch
As you pass by, your eyes catch sight of In-woo in the library, helping a younger student reach a book on a high shelf. His movements are graceful, effortless.
His face, usually so impassive when he looks at you, softens with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes but lights up his features all the same. The sight tugs at something deep within you.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5XfPGXwUw
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha7nfymKxW
Shin-woo: (Look at him... even when he smiles, it's like he's not really there. But it's enough to make my heart skip, isn't it?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a9RUELxQy
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEdR9g8i2A
You lean against the lockers, watching him interact with her—a stark contrast to how he treats you. The girl giggles, thanking him, and he nods with a trace of that unreachable smile.
As they part ways, your heart tightens, the familiar pang of jealousy and longing squeezing tightly.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPseLt9eYas
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLquf90zfJY
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u4hDT9TgJ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcX1njVfoj
The bell rings, pulling you from your reverie, but the image of his gentle smile lingers in your mind. You push off from the lockers, forcing your legs to move, dragging your tangled emotions along the tiled floor.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZGK4VaDt5
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshPZcwUba5
Shin-woo: (He's so confusing... so frustrating. I hate how much I pay attention, but I can't stop. It's like being stuck in a loop, always back to square one with him.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgcJnl1fG0
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItmcQt6iK5
As you turn the corner, your eyes inadvertently search for another glimpse of him, a habit you despise yet indulge in every time. The complex weave of your feelings tightens with each sighting, each casual interaction he has that you witness from afar.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkW1k8AQhw
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76h5U0nVGy
Shin-woo: (And every time he's kind, every time he smiles at someone else, it feels like a small betrayal. Why do I even care? Why can't I just turn off these feelings?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTGGdwvLlE
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN8QKTX6pb
You head to class, the weight of your unspoken questions and unresolved emotions clouding your mind like a fog that refuses to lift. Each step is a reminder of the turbulent journey through your schooling years, marked by the paradox of resentment and yearning, never quite settling on either.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo2Tf5qHKl
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4avAhBfT2
[Transition]192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hOGzHOtjk
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDVQDi0gu8
Saturday morning unfolds slowly at your home, the air filled with the laughter and occasional squabbles of your younger siblings.
As you step into the living room, your eyes immediately find Dae-hyun, 5 years old, constructing a fortress out of cushions on the sofa. His eyes light up when he sees you, and a grin spreads across his face.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDWCbEtnEM
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGH29YFfaZ
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC1PAzdftN
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfknjCNOezH
You can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, bending down to assist him with his architectural endeavor. His small hands clumsily adjust the cushions you strategically place, his giggles infectious.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKNRn5pYIp
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjZVpCt8oL
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddRFnnzKtf
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfKkpFEgLd
Next, you find Byung-ho, 6 years old, engrossed in a makeshift game of pirates, his toy sword swishing through the air as he navigates the treacherous carpet seas. He spots you and immediately recruits you as his first mate.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiCaaxpkLf
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbpvsqwHVu
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKxY4MQigO
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TvO9JP9yA
His expression is stern, but the twinkle in his eyes betrays his playful spirit. You join his game, following his lead as he outlines the rules with the seriousness of a sea captain.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN5HTcKPVD
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJprxXb05o2
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7RZdLgtwF
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4ISrv2W6d
Meanwhile, Iseul is at the kitchen table, working on her homework but clearly struggling to focus. Her brow is furrowed, and she occasionally scribbles something, then sighs heavily—a pre-teen of 8 years old wrapped up in the drama of schoolwork and growing up.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeKBW24z9W
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DdUDIkcuv
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nbJ8fOoYE
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExDtcXCBzg
Shin-woo: Need some help?192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo53zmCgdZ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBGse5lXAW
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sQ3r2POT4
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ADevRXb1x
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pPyJIZwbQ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7WzNiY8My
Her tone is a blend of the capricious pre-teen attitude you’re starting to see more often, but her eyes are grateful that you’re there to help.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfJ48oYdTn
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4IB79rbtn
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3FxlfM5Zo
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkwCBDzNHK
As you sit down to guide her through the math problem, explaining the steps with patient gestures, Dae-hyun clambers into your lap, snuggling close. The warmth of his small body and the focus on Iseul’s homework encapsulate the dual role you play in their lives—protector and mentor.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamFRYojh9K
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVa9Z6qzw6
Byung-ho’s victorious shout as he ‘finds’ his treasure fills the room, blending with Iseul’s relieved “Ah, I get it now!” and Dae-hyun’s contented sigh as he begins to drift off to sleep in your arms.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEKM28XEQB
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzOILFG4Iw
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcQwr4p57l
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxrxuuwwDK
You balance the weight of your youngest brother in your arms with the weight of your family’s needs, the love you have for them making every challenge worthwhile.
Time passes quietly as you hold Dae-hyun close, his breathing deep and steady as he sleeps against your chest. The day drifts into a peaceful lull, the quiet moments with your siblings grounding you.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJVPlzD8C6
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoFyCWBI45
Eventually, the stillness of the afternoon is broken by the soft creak of the front door. Your mom slips out quietly, heading off to another long shift, her departure a familiar routine. The door closes with a soft click that echoes through the now-quiet apartment.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uNzqDmkzY
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNM3jBwbBo
It’s a sound you’re all too familiar with, one that signals the start of another stretch where she’ll be at work, trying to keep everything together for the family.
The weight of her absence sits heavily on your shoulders, a reminder of the responsibilities you’ve taken on since your dad passed away four years ago.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDknOCyTNl
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7sVqYU3T6
Shin-woo: (She’s always so tired… She never complains, but I can see it. I just wish she didn’t have to work so hard.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7ZOOZEMrh
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxgIToIZ5s
You glance around the small apartment, now eerily quiet without the usual hum of activity. It’s moments like this when you miss your mom the most—not just her presence, but the way she used to laugh more freely before everything became about surviving.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoEEnb2hVh
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDWlFUaFLJ
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3cR3rLzWf
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMsKGiU32M
Your thoughts are interrupted by the familiar knock at the door. You already know who it is before you open it. Eun-ho, your childhood friend, stands there with a grin that could rival the sun.
He doesn’t need an invitation, stepping inside like he’s done a thousand times before. 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRsjZ8IjYy
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uIJAvn8VX
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZNncr6upZ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU4mta80S4
He drops his bag by the couch, plopping down like it’s his own home. In many ways, it is. The two of you have spent countless weekends and holidays here, filling the silence with laughter and mischief. Eun-ho’s presence always has a way of lightening the atmosphere, his energy infectious.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5zIJadxNB
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimY9oEmnvH
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiK7hGsnMD
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTJ5TI6xD7
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX7EK8KfMj
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9220K3qeFC
You join him on the couch, and he immediately starts goofing around, poking you in the ribs until you’re both laughing like kids again. This is your escape—a brief reprieve from the worries that usually occupy your mind.
He throws an arm around your shoulders, his voice dropping into that playful tone he uses whenever he wants to get a rise out of you.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqe4NJqpDR
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS9ddicr31
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGI1dTGGrP
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQAerRnftc
You freeze for a second, shooting him a glare, but it lacks real heat. He’s the only person who knows about your complicated feelings for In-woo, and he’s never let you live it down.
But you also know it comes from a place of understanding, not judgment.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9767UCTxB
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5km643zs6Z
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gh7FmutJo
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEUTznCpfZ
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrNG98I3Ah
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHStRkUtiW
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn17TDnj6MF
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIiTbUFhb9
You groan, leaning back against the couch, trying to will away the flush that creeps up your neck. He’s relentless, but that’s just who Eun-ho is. He knows how to push your buttons, but it’s also his way of showing he cares.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS12elI16K
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTEF0KwXQ8
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR1hkorTCJ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VeHsmHQ6K
The two of you settle into your usual routine—talking about everything and nothing, playing video games, and just enjoying the rare moments of peace when life doesn’t feel so heavy.
It’s these weekends that remind you you’re not alone, even when it feels like the world is on your shoulders.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaGPjqJKaP
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl5tIj1Tth
As the evening draws on, Eun-ho eventually falls asleep on the couch, his arm draped over his eyes to block out the light. You watch him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest calming your own racing thoughts.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpMuIMb3Zv
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qgBoetIpT
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmOZXdJTZB
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY6slJV2Av
You pull a blanket over him before heading to your room, the apartment now filled with the quiet sound of Eun-ho’s soft snores.
It’s not much, but these moments are enough to keep you going, to remind you that, no matter how tough things get, you’ve got someone in your corner.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUBP5hcg7t
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo0aU4B1MO
And with that thought, you let yourself relax, knowing that tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but also knowing you won’t be facing them alone.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraxOYeo81p
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt13IPZjEYB
[Transition]192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJtZAFaplz
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsPq8tf4Lf
It's spring, the season when the world outside bursts into color and life. As if on cue with the blooming flowers, In-woo has his own ritual.
Today, like many times before, he leads you to the old cherry blossom tree on the edge of the school grounds. The air is cool, but the sun dapples through the branches, casting playful shadows on the ground.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wsE3Uhug7
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg19ivkWe5
In-woo stretches out beneath the tree, his back against the grass, eyes closed in a serene expression. You settle next to him, not as relaxed, your body tense as you pretend to gaze outward at the scattered petals.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4lNbKGEtA
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKetpc9ggTI
Shin-woo: (Every spring it’s the same, but I never tire of it. It’s the one time I can just look at him, really look, without fear of being caught.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrvo2w83cV
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJicicMGTvK
You shift slightly, turning to steal a glance at In-woo. His features are softened by the gentle sunlight, making him look almost peaceful, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.
The setting is almost too picturesque, him lying there without a care, and you sitting guard, watching over his repose. Your hair falls forward, a convenient veil that completely conceals your face from curious onlookers, allowing you to gaze at him unnoticed.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK63CyWbO6B
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A0oVxbDbU
His chest rises and falls with a rhythm that lulls you into a sense of tranquility you only find here, in these moments. Your heart beats a little faster as you allow your eyes to trace the lines of his face—the curve of his jaw, the gentle arch of his brows.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1zdEXAgmu
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwr9OSE7dz
Shin-woo: (He’s like some character from a story, too perfect to be real. And here I am, close enough to know it’s not all just a façade.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAnMIAG1vt
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq786LtjkYa
Your hand inches closer to his, a subconscious desire to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. But you stop halfway, pulling back before a touch can break the spell.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8SSNfhxLx
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLfvGJ0eUZ
In-woo stirs slightly, his eyelids fluttering but not opening, and you quickly avert your gaze, focusing on a random point on the ground. Your heart hammers in your chest, worried for a moment that he caught you staring.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jgwoUGBKI
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd3AQT6dDe
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Cz9yP7yuE
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfozPJ5UtM
You draw in a deep breath, the scent of cherry blossoms filling your lungs, and settle in to enjoy the tranquility of the moment, however fleeting it may be.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmlIolL0Es
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTY3RWPT7i
The fleeting serenity of your spring ritual with In-woo comes to an abrupt end as he springs to his feet, full of energy.
With a characteristic tug at your sleeve, he pulls you along to the next event of the day—a basketball match against a rival high school. In-woo's school has never lost to this team, thanks largely to his prowess on the court.
[Transition]192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAxPfSqMJp
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPgByCPNWJ
You follow him to the gym, your role during these games well-practiced. You find your usual spot in the front row, armed with a bottle of water and a towel, essentials for In-woo during his breaks.
As you settle down, you feel the weight of numerous stares. Jealous glances from both girls and boys slice through the air towards you, their envy palpable. 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuP5eK7UAP
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVqRyalbBQ
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWOVQJB8zC
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57BTHIk7ZD
Your lips curl into a smirk, one that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but serves its purpose. It's a small rebellion, a silent assertion of your place by his side, even if the nature of that place is misunderstood by onlookers.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV9uuTL0va
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed7ZWcCNPr
As the game starts, In-woo transforms. On the court, he is not the stoic, unapproachable figure you spend your days with but a dynamic, almost untouchable force.
Each movement he makes is fluid and precise, his athleticism on full display. You can’t help but be captivated. 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjyMdOXbkQ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmT5JfNP0R
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUFCs1Nr8R
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuLTN8sxP3
Your smile widens as he scores yet another basket, his team pulling further ahead. The crowd's cheers swell around you, a tumultuous sea of excitement and energy, but your focus remains solely on In-woo.
His shirt clings to him, damp with sweat, outlining muscles that shift and flex with every move. The sight sends a warm thrill through you.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWKVFvXp31
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ivQSPX6wY
Shin-woo: (He’s incredible. Not just as a player... but just him. Every time I think I’ve got my feelings under control, he does something to show me I’m far from over him.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLsvLnkg3k
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yEfKyKPLk
You clutch the water bottle tighter, anticipation building with each pause in the game when you know he’ll jog over to you for a quick refresh, his face alight with the thrill of the game, eyes finding yours for that brief moment that seems to stretch and bend in the air between you.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4UUU0dRN3
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVu3ttEYas
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv9Iokow8z
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFr7ZkCjIy
The whistle blows, snapping you out of your reverie, and he jogs over again, that same determined, competitive gleam in his eyes that somehow softens just a fraction when he looks at you.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWjgFNagLC
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3Dd78r4Jw
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTjUhXaCma
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17wMIXHGBQ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5MVFMycv2
You hand him the towel first, watching as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and neck, his movements precise and calculated. There's an intensity to his actions, a focus that he carries from the court to even the simplest tasks.
You then offer the water bottle, and as he takes a long drink, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to the motion of his Adam's apple, tracking each swallow with a fascination you can't hide.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBjIufXoJp
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4z8gfF6RW
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdUBiIQpFg
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JVr6mAMnZ
A droplet of water escapes, tracing a line down from the corner of his mouth to his neck. Your gaze follows the path of the water, lingering a moment too long.
Unconsciously, your tongue flicks out, wetting your own lips as if you could taste the salty sweetness of his effort from across the air between you.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19Znw6doaY
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4NVsetcH6
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHdEfkS32y
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8NfIa97gS
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILgI022gWd
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSRx7NYbph
His look is a mix of amusement and a challenge, a silent question about what exactly you find so captivating. Flustered, you scramble mentally, looking away briefly before meeting his eyes again, an attempt to regain some composure. 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2wLD13KEw
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTsDNYPeKm
Shin-woo: (Focus. He’s just a guy. Just a guy who happens to throw my world off its axis every time he looks at me.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyaqSrfxWA
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcwp5EgYAk
As he finishes drinking and hands back the bottle, the moment stretches taut between you. There’s an acknowledgment in his glance, a recognition of the unspoken tension that always seems to dance just on the edge of your interactions.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVSZogEE5C
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhDmEFhA33
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUxZ2jYts9
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESTomlH2VX
He returns to the game without another word, leaving you to ponder the brief encounter, your heart pounding a little too loudly in your chest.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtgldDSnmV
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctZhZJywC4
The game resumes with its usual fervor, the crowd’s energy palpable as the players dart back and forth across the court. You watch, half-lost in the ebb and flow of the match, your nerves tight each time In-woo handles the ball.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJIIwQNOf3
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqvjqYWaiG
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI5VM0cDpI
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQweMMIZ4K
Your focus sharpens as Dylan, a notorious rival from the opposing team, enters into a direct contest with In-woo.
You know Dylan by reputation and unfortunate personal experience; he's the type who bristles at being overlooked, and his interactions with you have been uncomfortably forward, always trying to catch your eye with a wink or a smirk during games.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzURZSc6I8
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa9hM4cTrt
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf4IM8srDl
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvFD86ImEV
Today, Dylan's antagonism is more palpable than ever. His taunts seem louder, aimed not just to unnerve In-woo but to draw a reaction from you as well.
However, In-woo, ever the stoic, ignores him, focused solely on the game. This only seems to infuriate Dylan further.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HLNJl1alK
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsVrdD60dK
As the tension on the court builds, a sudden movement catches your eye—a deliberate, aggressive shove from Dylan. In-woo, caught off-guard, stumbles backward, his balance lost.
The world seems to slow down as In-woo's head makes a sickening thud against the metal basketball post. He crumples to the floor, motionless.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE81VznVCP9
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsTsWeMpZO
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
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